The Foundation Phase

The Foundation Phase is "the statutory curriculum for all three to seven year old's in Wales, in both maintained and non-maintained settings, it encouraged children to be creative, imaginative and makes learning more enjoyable and more effective" (Gov.wales, 2015).  
The Foundation Phase was published in 2012 by the department for education. 

Within the Foundation phase there are seven statutory areas of learning, these are:

• Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity
• Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
• Mathematical Development 
• Welsh Language Development 
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World 
• Physical Development
• Creative Development  

For each of these areas there is are educational studies that set out what is required to be taught, and outcomes that set out expected standards of performance.

Key aspects of effective learning characteristics include children: 

• Being willing to have a go
• Being involved and concentrating
• Having their own ideas
• Choosing ways to do things
• Finding new ways
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do. 

For each of these areas there is are educational studies that set out what is required to be taught, and outcomes that set out expected standards of performance.

Within the Foundation Phase it is seen as very important to help develop a child's knowledge, skills and understanding through play, experiential learning (learning by doing) and by solving real life problems in both indoor and outdoor environments through these areas of learning.

Registered childminders who are not funded for education by the LEA can still support children’s learning and development by understanding the philosophy and ethos of the Foundation Phase and linking this to the care they provide. This is now a requirement under the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Child Care in Wales as Standard 7 (:10) states:

"The principles of the Foundation Phase and its seven areas of learning are understood and applied in a way appropriate to the age, abilities and stage of development of children in their care and the nature of the provision."